Once again, I have to start out a post with an apology because I am absolutely horrible at giving updates. I’ve just been busy with school and now midterms have kicked in, so I’m trying my best to juggle everything.

Hair
My routine is a little different now. I did go ahead and get those ends trimmed n July and my hair really thanked me for it. It was much easier to manage and detangle, even though it barely looked shorter. My stylist gave me a dry Deva cut and I loved it.

March 2012

September 2012

She used Mixed Chicks to style it, which left my hair kinda dry. I went back to Shea Moisture. This time I’m using the African Black Soap Shampoo because I had some dandruff issues (it cleared it right up!), the Raw Shea Restorative Conditioner, the Anti Breakage Mask and the Coconut & Hibiscus and Anti-Breakage Milks. I got most of these in a CVS BOGO sale. They all work much better than the Curling Souffle and the Raw Shea Mask did for me. I also tried the beloved Curl Enhancing Smoothie a million different ways and I couldn’t find a single way that worked for me, so I had to return it.

I also bought some Curl Junkie in a CurlMart sale: the Cleansing Conditioner, Smoothing Conditioner, Smoothing Lotion, Curl Rehab and Curls in a Bottle. I love the Smoothing Lotion and Curls in a Bottle – they have become my HG leave-in and finisher. They’re on the pricey side for my budget, but a little goes a long way and my hair appreciates the love. The Smoothing Conditioner worked as well as the Shea Moisture Conditioner, so I probably won’t repurchase if it’s not on sale. The Cleansing Conditioner works well, but I’m sure I can find a cheaper co-wash. The Curl Rehab was okay, but I want to try the Banana & Hibiscus DC to compare.

I’ve also had a lot of success with homemade DCs. I blend a mixture of avocado, banana, plain yogurt, coconut milk, honey (or molasses) and oils (not all in one mix; just depending on what I have). Then, I sit under a heat cap for about an hour and then wash and condition as usual.

As far as styling goes, I tried to do more twist outs, but they didn’t look right to me. I guess practice makes perfect. I revisited the Argan Eco Styler Gel with the CJ Smoothing Lotion under it and really liked it! Much softer and no flakes, which I would get after day 3 with KCCC. I also did a lot of buns with the SM Milks.

The biggest change has been that I have become a sports anchor for my campus’s nightly newscast, so I decided to get my hair professionally flat-ironed. I would have liked to wear my curls, but I don’t know them well enough to where I can rely on a particular style or method so that my hair will look great on camera. Last month, I went to a place where I got it flat ironed and it turned out well, but the stylist was so rough with my hair. My scalp was a little sore from the pulling. I also felt uncomfortable with the use of a pressing comb and flat iron rather than just a flat iron. I like to know exactly what temperature is being used. On the bright side, I was able to keep it straight for a little over a month without reapplying heat! Yesterday I went to a new salon to which I will be returning. For about the same price, I got an all-natural deep condition with a steam treatment and the stylist blow dried and flat-ironed my entire head in 35 minutes. That has never happened to me in my entire life. She was gentler and only used natural products. In the end, it looked just as good, if not better, than the other salon’s, so that will be my go to salon for straight styling from now on.

♦

Check out Madison’s other GOC-The Sequel posts here:

Initial Submission
May Update